https://arab.news/jykyb
As 2025 gave way to 2026, many people across diverse societies and traditions in the Middle East and North Africa region and the wider Arab world welcomed the new year.
It is important to keep in mind that the transition into 2026 unfolded against a complex historical and political backdrop. The outgoing year was marked by significant events in various countries, including armed conflicts, humanitarian crises and economic pressures that affected many people across the region.
In spite of these challenges, the arrival of the new year once again brought many people together as a cultural expression, in hope of a more peaceful future and the reaffirmation of social bonds that have existed for thousands of years.
The celebration of the new year in the MENA region should not be viewed as a uniform or monolithic phenomenon. Instead, the festivities point to the region’s intriguing and remarkable cultural, religious and ethnic diversity.
